Charlottetown hospital reports more superbug cases

Officials at a Charlottetown hospital reported seven new infections on Tuesday, two from a rare form of bacteria and five staph infections.

TheQueen Elizabeth Hospitalhas reported a total ofeight cases of vancomycin resistant enterococci, or VRE, since May. One patient with VRE remains in hospital, and the QEH said in a release that the patient would be discharged "shortly."

These cases mark the first infections of the bacteria discovered in P.E.I.

The hospital also reported five new cases of methicillin resistant staph aureus (MRSA) in one ofits medical units. TheQEH said in a release thatthe unit has been temporarily closed to admissionsand swabbing and testing is underway to contain the bacteria.

Two of the five patients with MRSA remain in hospital.

Both VRE and MRSA are bacteria that have become resistant to common antibiotics.

Visitors and personnelat the QEHare being told to take extra care washing their hands and to use hand sanitizer more often to prevent further spread of the bacteria. Hand contact is the most common way for VRE to be transmitted.